WIU installs solar umbrellas, bike repair stations for sustainability

Lainie SteelmanReporter/Lifestyle Writer

Wednesday

Jul 15, 2015 at 11:02 AM

Two new sustainability initiatives are visible on the Western Illinois University campus, one a little sexier than the other. That's according to Mandi Green, the university's sustainability coordinator.

MACOMB — Two new sustainability initiatives are visible on the Western Illinois University campus, one a little sexier than the other. That’s according to Mandi Green, the university’s sustainability coordinator. “These solar umbrellas are awesome!” Green said with excitement on Tuesday afternoon while showing off the new solar charging stations placed outside of the rear entrance to Stipes Hall and adjacent to the north side entrance of Malpass Library.Green said the campus already needed the umbrellas for the outdoor tables at Stipes Hall, and took the idea for the solar charging stations — umbrellas topped with solar panels that supply energy for AC and USB ports — to the university’s sustainability committee.“The whole idea of these umbrellas was, ‘All of our sustainability happens behind the wall,’ Green explained. “It’s all things that nobody really cares about, because it’s…it’s big things. We’re very progressive when it comes to sustainability, but it’s nothing sexy. We don’t do anything sexy. We’re not putting solar panels on our buildings. We’re not putting big wind turbines up. I said, ‘We need something sexy to get people talking about sustainability on campus.’”The umbrellas and a new bike repair station were entirely funded with grant money from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, according to Green.A bike repair station was recently installed outside of Grote Hall. The self-sustained station includes an air pump and a selection of tools — from an allen wrench to a screwdriver — so students can perform simple bike repairs and maintenance.The bike repair station at Grote Hall and one soon to be installed outside of the University Union work well in conjunction with the Rocky Bikes program, Green said. Rocky Bikes provides a free 48-hour bike rental to any faculty, staff or student. Bikes can be rented from the Grisby Physical Plant.“We’re finding that students do maintain the Rocky bikes,” Green said. “They’re very helpful. They’re airing up tires for us; they’re putting chains on, which is helpful because we operate that program with no budget.”Green said the bike repair station isn’t intended for major bicycle repairs. When significant repairs are needed to a Rocky bike, the university often turns to Mark Larson, owner of The Bike Shop at 137 Columbia St.“He helps us to repair our bikes when it’s big things, and he trains my staff to do some of the little things,” Green said of Larson. “Mark has been instrumental with the Rocky Bikes program. He helps us out greatly.”Larson said he appreciates how the university uses the Rocky Bikes program to encourage more students and staff to hop on bike rather than jump inside a vehicle.“I think it’s a good idea,” Larson said of the bike repair stations. “When you can get a station like that has tools and pumps, and they can do it themselves, it’s a good thing. Anything that can promote riding bikes and not driving your car, it’s a good thing.”The two solar umbrella charging stations and the bike repair station each cost about $1,500, according to Green. She said more umbrellas might be purchased in the future if more grant money becomes available.

Reach Lainie Steelman via email at lsteelman@McDonoughVoice.com, or follow her on Twitter @LainieSteelman.

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